• They’re the life-blood of any organization and can be your friend, neighbor, former business colleague, and/or family member. • They have given time, talent, and treasure and shown commitment. • They work at companies, firms, schools, other non-profits and/or government agencies who may support you as well. • They may have you in their wills. • They may be active for your organization via social media. • They have friends and co-workers who can become donors.
we just send mail or email to solicit donors? • What’s the best way to solicit board members? • Should we simply send a thank you letter, or is it ok to call donors after they’ve made a gift? • What do we do if we think we have lost a donor? So, how do we ask for a gift and then properly follow up?
know who is around you! Network, always! 1 2 Thank your donors. Send your donors a thank you letter within 48 hours of receiving a gift. 3 Stay in touch with your donors. Make sure you contact your donors on a consistent basis, via email, mail, and/or phone. Ask them how they want to stay in touch! 4 Use Social Media Social Media is here to stay: Use it to make connections. 5 Repeat It’s a cycle: Always be cultivating, stewarding, and soliciting your donors. 6 Honor Donor’s Trust Donors trust your organization, so focus on mission and how their gift impacted the organization. Honor their trust in your organization.
a gift over a specified period of time. • Donor-advised Fund: a charitable giving vehicle administered by a public charity (Association of Black Charities and Baltimore Community Foundation for example) created to manage charitable donations on behalf of organizations, families, or individuals. It is created when an individual or organization opens an account in the fund and deposits cash, securities, or other financial instruments. • Foundation: a trust that has been created by a family, company, individual or community whose purpose is to grant funds to non-profit organizations for programs. • Accountability: The responsibility of the organization to keep a donor informed about the use that is made of the donor’s gift as well as the cost of raising it. • Form 990: Tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts, and section 527 political organizations file this form to provide the IRS with financial and program information. Source: Certified Fund Raising Executives website. www.cfre..org Commonly-used phrases you should know
• Organizational Background • Statement of Need • Purpose of Request • Anticipated Results and Learnings • Stewardship and Sustainability 3. Budget and Budget Narrative 4. Attachments (varies by donor) Proposal Outline
carefully. Avoid jargon, abbreviations, and buzzwords. Make sure your budget balances. Diversify your funding sources. Adhere to formatting requirements. Answer “So what?” 7 Grant Writing Tips
people. Ø Show your ability to respond to these needs. Ø Provide accurate data, trends, statistics, and the views of experts to support the need you’re addressing and the effectiveness of your response.
297-5335 or [email protected] For questions about individual fundraising, contact Christopher Maynard, director of individual and foundation relations, at (443) 709-4942 or [email protected] Questions?
297-5335 or [email protected] For questions about individual fundraising, contact Christopher Maynard, director of individual and foundation relations, at (443) 709-4942 or [email protected]
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